BIOCHEMICAL PHARMACOLOGY OF SEROTONIN RECEPTOR SUBTYPES - HYPOTHESES FOR CLINICAL-APPLICATIONS OF SELECTIVE SEROTONIN LIGANDS

This article discusses the pharmacological basis for applying advances in serotonin receptor subtyping to the development of novel psychiatr ic medications. We review here the therapeutic potential of various ag onists and antagonists of one or more of the serotonin receptor subtyp es. We especially emphasize central nervous system disorders theoretic ally linked to serotonin and its receptors, including many which curre ntly have no satisfactory treatment. This includes anxiety, depression , alcohol abuse and dependence, smoking cessation, stroke, migraine, s chizophrenia, aggression, impulse control disorders, and eating disord ers.